Tyler Schmidt
| Your Turn
I am writing in response to the Your Turn published on Sept. 28, regarding the Capital City Country Club and the pending appraisal of its land and plans.
Reading this column, and others before it, I have been deeply troubled by the rhetoric used to describe the club that many others and I hold dear. Labeling the member base under one broad brushstroke as “old white duffers” is not only offensive but misrepresents the true culture and spirit of the club.
This type of language diminishes the genuine sense of community that exists within our membership and among the many guests who are welcomed here. Capital City Country Club has recently been portrayed negatively in its efforts to improve and preserve a meaningful piece of Tallahassee and Florida history.
I fully understand the common stereotype that golf courses are exclusive sanctuaries for the wealthy, separated by invisible barriers meant to keep out those of different economic or racial backgrounds. For someone unfamiliar with the game, or with Capital City Country Club, it may be easy to assume that such stereotypes apply here. Yet that assumption could not be further from the truth. The reality of this club is one of accessibility, diversity, and genuine community.
When I joined Capital City a few years ago, I had very little golf experience and had never been a member of any club. I was hesitant, expecting the kind of “good ole boy” environment that would make it difficult to fit in. However, because Capital City is a member-owned course rather than a privately owned course where the owner is strictly invested for a return on his/her investment, it was financially accessible in a way other courses were not. I am not wealthy, nor am I the stereotypical “old white duffer” arriving in a luxury car between business meetings. Yet this club, by being member-owned, made it possible for an average Joe with a love of the game to find a place to enjoy an amazing golf course.
From the moment I joined, I was welcomed by both staff and members. My assumptions quickly disappeared. I was invited to participate in tournaments, events, and gatherings. Over time, I’ve made friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
Where other local courses have built high walls or set prohibitively high dues that effectively exclude many, Capital City has remained open and affordable. It provides a space where anyone—regardless of race, class, or background—can enjoy the game.
I would like to invite anyone with preconceived notions of our club to visit for a day. Meet our members. Learn about our goals and values firsthand. You will see junior golf tournaments that give local youth the chance to develop healthy, lifelong skills. You will see Leon County high school teams practicing here and using our facilities. You will notice that we are the only course in Tallahassee that opens its doors to Florida A&M University’s golf team, something we take great pride in.
Our member base today is diverse, including young professionals, families, retirees, and individuals from all walks of life who share a genuine appreciation for the game and for our club.
To continue portraying Capital City Country Club negatively because of its land history or its desire for improvement does a disservice to the truth. Every member I know supports honoring and memorializing the graves found on our property. But to judge or punish our club for preserving the land instead of building apartments, parking lots, or state buildings on it feels unjust.
Many of us would welcome the opportunity for our side of the story to be shared. In a time when so much is politicized or weaponized, Capital City Country Club stands apart by striving to be a place where ordinary people can gather, play, and belong. Allowing the public to see that perspective would be a fair and meaningful step toward understanding what our club truly represents.
Tyler Schmidt, a native of Crawfordville, is a member of the Capital City Country Club.
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